Oscae e



(No Model.)

0. E. WAIT.

WOODEN MALLET, m. 311,155- Patented Jan. 20,1885.

STATES OSCAR E. \VAIT, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO PHILE'IUS W.

GOULD, OFSAME PLACE.

WOODEN MALLET, 85C.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,155, dated January 20, 1885.

Application filed July Sl, 18 3. (No modelj:

' To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, OSCAR E. WAIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of \Vindsor and State of 5 Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVooden Mallets and other Wooden Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in re- 1 enforced wooden articles-such as mallets, toolhandles, wooden tubes, and other articles and the object of my invention is to re-enforce said articles in such manner that the strengthening-splints may be very cheaply applied 1 without increasing the weight of the article, and also so that when applied they shall be very firm and efficient. I attain this object by the simple construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View, partly in vertical section, of one end of a mallet re-enforced at one point and gropved at another preparatory to re-ent'orcement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a long splintwound spirally ready to 2 5 be cut up into sections to form ring-splints, the

broken line in said figure indicating the first cut, the part above said line being suitable for one ring-splint. Fig. 3 is a side view of a blank for a single ring-splint, the same being 0 represented as out ready for bending. Fig. 4c is a side view ofa ring-splint as formed from the blank, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a chisel-handle re-enforced at the upper end, and Fig. 6 is avertical section of one end 3 5 of a bobbin re-enforced at the lower end.

I design to apply my re-enforcing splints in a groove or grooves formed in that end of Wooden articles which exposes the end of the grain of the wood.

A designates the end of a mallet-head having two annular grooves formed in it, one of which is filled with a splint, a, while the unfilled groove is designated by the letter b. I prefer to make the grooves annularand the splints in ring form; but the grooves may, if

desired, be made in scroll form. and. filled by a splint. I form the ring-splints in two ways. One way is to take long splints of tough wood, steam them, and wind them spirally into the form shown in Fig. 2. This can readily be done by winding over a rod or former and confining the splint until dry. The spirallywound splint is then cut into proper lengths,

After the splints and grooves have been pre- I pared, I glue the splints and force them into the grooves. This may be done by placing the ringsplints into a tube or ring of the proper size, and then by means of a follower which fills the tube or ring force the splint through the tube or ring into the groove, said follower being arranged in any suitable press.

The same reference-letter, a, designates the splint in the chisel-handle and bobbin as well as .in the mallet.

The mallet may have only one splint, or more, as may be desired.

The illustration of the splint at the end of the bobbin shows the manner of applying my re-enforcing splint to other tubes or tubular articles.

I am aware that tubular articles have heretofore been re-enforced by means of a splint in the form of a bushing or lining; also, that mallets and tool-handles have been strengthened by exterior rings or bands of metal; also, that a prior patent shows a tool-handle in which a shouldered tip is secured to the body of the handle by means of a pin-and-socket connection, together with a metal wedge in the form of a ring or band driven intoan annular groove from the end which exposes the grain, said ring or band being driven into place by the tip itself, and completely covered by the tip in the finished article, and I hereby disclaim the same.

By forcing the spliutinto a groove which it fills it is readily and firmly held in proper position and shape, so that a firm union of the splint and article to which it is glued is insured.

The surface of the finished article which is formed conjointly by the ends of the grain and the splint is free from metal or other hard substance, and will not bruise or scratch anything with which it may come in contact. The splintis covered except at one edge, and is therefore not liable to be torn out, and, in the case of tubular articles like bobbins, it strengthens the same materially against both external and internal pressure, and does not add to the Weight nor in the slightest degree affect thev balance. This mode of re-enforeing articles of wood has none of the objections attendant upon the use of metal bands,to which glue and cement do not readily adhere.

I intend to apply iny re-eniorcing splints to both ends of the heads of lnallets. They can be applied to one or both ends of various articles, as may be desired.

I claim as my invention- 7 Articles of wood having a surface which shows the end of the grain,with a non-metallic splint or splints glued or cement-ed into a groove or grooves therein, said splints being formed with beveled ends lapped one over the other, so that the seam stands transversely to the grain of the Wood in which the ring is embedded, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

OSCAR E. \VAIT.

\Vitnesses:

MERRILL L. LAWRENCE, ALroE M. WHEELER. 

